Public Affairs Manager - 12 Month FTC

The NRLA: Who we are

The UK's largest membership organisation for private residential landlords, the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) supports and represents more than100,000 members across England and Wales.

Created by landlords, for landlords, it offers investors everything they need to run a successful and compliant lettings business, whether they are full-time property professionals running large portfolios or accidental landlords with a single let.

The NRLA is a trusted ally, on hand to guide members through the complex regulatory environment, with all the essential documents and guidance needed to run a successful and fully compliant business.

A truly member-first organisation, innovation is at the heart of what we do and have invested in and developed new proptech solutions for members, including the acquisition of property safety certification firm Safe2 and the development of property management system Portfolio.

A dynamic and fast-paced organisation, the NRLA is a great place to work, and it is not just us saying that, we have Investors in People Gold status to prove it. The association was also named one of the best companies to work for in the UK in a list compiled by The Sunday Times.

Our enthusiastic and ambitious staff work out of offices in Central Manchester and Central London with hybrid working options available. Colleagues typically work from home four days a week with one day in the office.

We are looking for colleagues who are professional, adaptable, and innovative. In return we offer an inclusive and creative working environment with attractive options for training and career development and a competitive salary and benefits package.

The NRLA package:

• 25 days annual leave increasing to 26 days with three years’ service, 27 days with five years’ service and 28 days with seven years’ service
• Additional annual day off for your birthday
• Salary exchange Pension scheme
• Life assurance
• Cash plan health and wellbeing benefit including Employee Assistance Programme and counselling service
• Sick pay
• Cycle purchase loans, season tickets loans and interest free staff loans
• Complimentary NRLA membership
• Non contractual annual performance-related bonus scheme
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Delivery and Impact

• Together with the Deputy Director, develop the NRLA public affairs strategy and implementation plan, ensuring our work represents, supports and leads NRLA members.
• Identify new opportunities for the NRLA to leverage its resources and assets – including its membership and research – to influence political stakeholders.
• Ensure appropriate management of activities as part of the public affairs strategy, from initiation to evaluation. This includes project managing, reporting, and budget setting and monitoring.
• Oversee all public affairs activity, ensuring quality content, impactful communications, and effective monitoring. This includes communicating effectively with colleagues and members, and engaging members on public affairs campaigns, as appropriate, working to increase member satisfaction in this area.
• Work collaboratively with other colleagues across the organisation, including (but not limited to) policy, communications, marketing and commercial, to ensure public affairs aims and activities are integrated and complemented across the organisation’s work.

External Relationships

• Identify and foster working relationships with key parliamentarians and their staff to promote the NRLA’s public affairs objectives.
• Develop and maintain effective professional networks that will add value to NRLA’s work and ensure that it is viewed as an influential and reliable partner.
• Create and nurture collaborative campaign planning and execution with stakeholders and third-party organisations.
• Manage relationships with external agencies and consultants to deliver objectives.

Leadership

• Lead the team – role modelling a customer-centric approach which inspires and motivates.
• Ensure the team is able to provide appropriate support across the NRLA, including the work of NRLA regional representatives, commercial services, events, and relevant partners.

Performance Management

• Provide support and development to team members, to ensure that they are appropriately structured and resourced to deliver the corporate aims.
• Develop a strong performance culture and commitment to customer satisfaction. Monitor performance and ensure the delivery of high quality and innovative services.

Governance and Control

• Monitor spending according to the agreed budget and value for money.
• Provide regular updates for the Board and the Executive Team of public affairs plans as required.
• Ensure team compliance with key policy and procedure in areas such as health and safety; equalities and diversity; data protection; code of conduct and all other statutory requirements, which are routinely checked for compliance.

Other

• Undertake any other duties as may be reasonably required within the scope of the role.

PERSON SPECIFICATIONS

Qualifications

• Degree in politics, public policy or other relevant subject; or equivalent experience

Skills & Abilities

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence a range of stakeholders.
• Flexible approach, able to respond quickly to events.
• External focus, with proven ability to build networks, and work in partnership with relevant bodies and organisations.
• Strong focus on detail, and the deliver of quality focussed information and service.

Experience

• At least three years’ experience working with and/or influencing policymakers, politicians and/or stakeholders (essential)
• Experience of line management (essential)
• Experience of leading public affairs campaigns and using a range of campaign approaches (essential)
• Project management (essential)
• Flexible, with demonstrable ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team (essential)
• Experience of the housing sector (desirable)
• Experience of working with a membership association or third-sector organisation (desirable)

Knowledge

• Understanding of UK politics, the private rented sector, and the role of trade associations.
• Understanding of a creative campaigning environment.
• Understanding of the role of national and local governments and how to interact with governmental stakeholders.

Personal Attributes

• Excellent interpersonal skills to develop strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Commitment to the NRLA’s objectives
• Willingness to travel and/or work out of office hours on occasion (e.g. for meetings and engaging with NRLA members – on average once a month)

This role will close at 12pm on 8th October 2024. However, we may choose to close the role earlier if we have a sufficient number of applicants.